Manhattan Beach Sea Temperature Today

Beaches

Manhattan Beach has about 3 km of wide, sandy shore, watched by Los Angeles County lifeguards from towers along the sand. The area around the pier has volleyball courts, gentle surf on calm days and space for families, while El Porto at the northern end is a popular surf spot with bigger waves. The Strand, a paved walkway, runs along the top of the beach past beach houses, and the Marvin Braude Bike Trail links Manhattan Beach with Santa Monica to the north and Redondo Beach to the south, partly beside the sand and partly on inland sections.

Things to do

Manhattan Beach Pier reaches about 280 m out to sea, and the small Roundhouse Aquarium at its end focuses on local marine life. The Manhattan Beach Open, a beach volleyball tournament first held in 1960, is played on the sand by the pier in summer. Downtown, the streets leading up from the pier have restaurants, bars and boutiques, and a walk south along the Strand reaches Hermosa Beach in under an hour. Sand Dune Park has a steep natural dune used for exercise, with access by reservation, and at sunset people gather at the end of the pier to watch the sun set over the ocean, with the Palos Verdes hills to the south and, on clear days, Santa Catalina Island on the horizon.

Weather and best time to visit

From August to September the sea at Manhattan Beach is warmer than 20 °C / 68 °F.

Manhattan Beach has a mild, Mediterranean climate. Early summer often starts with a grey marine layer in the morning, locally called May Gray and June Gloom, that often clears later in the day but can linger along the coast. Late summer is often a good time for the beach, most rain falls between November and March, and the Pacific off Manhattan Beach stays cool enough that many surfers wear wetsuits much of the year.

Hotels and where to stay

Downtown Manhattan Beach, near the pier, puts the sand, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance. Hotels along Sepulveda Boulevard, a few blocks inland, are quieter and often cheaper.

Signature hotels: Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach

Airport and getting there

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is only a few kilometres north, usually 15 to 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. There is no rail station in Manhattan Beach itself, so most visitors drive or use taxis and rideshare.